A/N: Sorry. I will update sooner. I've just been spending too much time on . Guh. Addicted to slash, I'm telling you. Anyway; next chapter here for your reading pleasure. Oh, and Crying Pixie, Bill and Charlie were in the third film. If you want, I can get you pictures! :D I can't wait to see them have a more significant role either.
"It will NEVER fit in there. It's WAY too big..."
"Of course it will fit in there. Look, I've done stuff like this a load of times. We've just shift it a little to the left and it'll go right in."
"I don't think so. Look Bill, I'm telling you. It's too big! And that space is so small..."
"Fine. You don't believe me? Just do me a favour and grab that... right, move it in there--"
Charlie flattened his whole body against the door in a desperate effort to hear what was going on inside his brother's bedroom, desperate to hear bill and Tonks' voices. It was a damp Saturday afternoon and Drake was resting in his room after a long night of restless sleep and haunting nightmares. It was a month since Drake had arrived at the burrow and the nightmares he had were still reoccurring although his physical strength had returned. The rain was drizzling on the hills surrounding the burrow, creating a cool mist. Charlie had been walking absently through the house when he had heard the couple's voices coming from Bills room. Now, minutes later, he was listening intently and open mouthed to the conversation taking place inside. He was surprised when a cry of delight from Tonks made a spear of jealousy shoot through him.
"It fits!"
"I told you it would," said Bills happy voice.
"You've obviously done this before."
"What can I say? I'm a professional!"
"I must say. It goes very nicely."
Charlie was just raising his eyebrows in confusion when he heard the door knob turn. He didn't have time to do anything other than panic before Bill opened the door and Charlie stumbled into the room. He just caught the look of amusement from Bill when Tonks came up to him, her expression one of annoyance.
"What were you doing?"
"Yeah Charlie. What were you doing outside my door?" Bill was still grinning and Charlie smiled sheepishly as Tonks stared at him with piercing green eyes.
"Well I uh... I was just passing you see and I thought I'd you know, say hey but uh... I wasn't sure if you otherwise engaged..."
"Any excuse to get out of work." Tonks huffed and sat down heavily on Bill's double bed.
"You should've joined us. You would have probably had a better idea of how to fit it in than her. Seems Tonks hasn't moved objects that big before..."
Charlie shot a double take at Bill. "What?!"
"The cupboard." Tonks pointed towards a large oak dresser that stood in between two smaller units. Charlie felt a wave of understanding begin to creep over him. "We had to move it in. Fleur's going to be living here for a couple of weeks until she gets a new place in Diagon Alley so Bill needed to get a new dresser for her as he's too manly to have one of his own." She nodded towards a pile of clothes slumped over a chair in the corner.
Bill was visibly shaking with laughter now. "Why? What did you think we were doing Char?"
"Nothing!" stammered Charlie quickly, his voice a little higher than usual. He couldn't deny that an overwhelming feeling of relief had crept over him however. It was odd but since the night of Drakes arrival, Charlie had felt oddly protective of Tonks. Especially since he had met her after returning home. She had seemed so genuinely worried about his safety. He was unaware that any female not blood related could care that deeply for him...
Tonks was innocently cleaning the table next to Bill's bed, unaware of the innuendos in her and Bill's conversation. Bill, however, was still sniggering at the way Charlie had gotten upset. Charlie felt more and more embarrassed as Bill's gaze bore into him until he could take it no more.
"I'm going to go and patrol an hour early. I'll see you later."
"Wait!" called Tonks standing up; her hand's clutching Bill's table lamp and a coaster. "Are you on for patrol's tonight? Diagon Alley?"
Charlie nodded causing Tonks to grin. "Great, and me! Give me five minutes to get changed and I'll go with you." Tonks placed the lamp and coaster down on the table and ran pass Charlie, up to her room. Charlie looked at Bill whose eyes were twinkling.
"You were jealous." Charlie scowled as Bill circled him, wolfishly. "You. Were. Jealous!" Bill grabbed a pillow and threw it at Charlie as he went to hit Bill.
"Shut up! What was I suppose to think?" Charlie imitated Tonks' voice as a high version of his own. "Oh Bill. It fits! You must have done this before!" Bill laughed heartily as Charlie grinned.
"I'm glad I amuse you so much."
Charlie turned and felt a spear of ice shoot to his centre. Tonks was standing in the doorway looking hurt, her eyes flashing. "If it's all the same to you," she whispered. "I think I'll patrol on my own tonight."
Charlie went to run towards her but she slammed the door in his face leaving him to step back and grimace at the door. "For crying out loud!" he yelled angrily and kicked a waster paper bin which crashed loudly. "I can't do anything right round her."
Bill was looking genuinely upset. "Mate, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you into trouble. Just... run after her or something."
Charlie opened the door dejectedly, already getting his wand out to apparate to Diagon Alley.
"I've never chased this much after a girl," he said almost to himself.
Bill grinned. "She must be worth it then." Charlie couldn't mistake Bill's chuckle as he disappeared.
--
It was 8 O'clock that evening when Charlie finally found Tonks leaning against a sign outside a dubious looking pub in Knockturn Alley. The rain was pouring heavily, illuminating the wet puddles on the floor and casting an eerie glow throughout the alley. When running up to her and demanding to know why she was in such a dangerous place, she gave him a withering look and set off down the street. Charlie rolled his eyes and jogged up to her, continuing to follow next to her in a brisk walk.
"Sorry about earlier. Really, there was nothing to get upset about."
"I wasn't upset. I was annoyed."
"About?"
"How could you think that I would be doing anything like that?"
Charlie went to speak when he realised that he could come up with no explanation. Feeling stupid, he smiled boyishly at her and punched her arm softly. "Fine. You go ahead and make me feel bad."
Tonks grinned and Charlie sighed inwardly, relief that she was no longer angry seeping through him. She was oddly attractive when soaking wet, noted Charlie.
"So, Knockturn Alley patrols. Let's go."
"Lets. Oh Charlie?"
"Hmm?"
"Knockturn Alley's this way."
--
It was a chilly evening, one that – had Charlie been one to abandon the sense of duty – most people would've skipped patrols for and gone into the Leaky Cauldron for a butterbeer. Ambling along the wet pavements of Knockturn Alley, the rain still pouring (if possible, harder than before) Charlie watched the various miscreants as they went about their daily evil business. He hated patrols. Only twice had they ever found someone with enough evidence on them to apprehend. It was a futile cause but Charlie did it anyway. At least he got to spend time with Tonks.
"How has your day been?"
Charlie glanced at Tonks who was shivering slightly.
"Not bad. Until the bedroom thing." He left a grin in the wake of his words to ensure Tonks didn't have a go at him. What was it about her that made him so blooming eager to please?
"Hmm." She paused. "I got a letter from my aunt today."
"Your aunt. Who's that?"
"Narcissa Malfoy."
Charlie gaped at her, stopping in his track and dragging her into a nearby alcove that dripped earnestly on them.
"THE Narcissa Malfoy?"
"How many Malfoy's do you know, Charlie?"
"True. Why? I mean, what would she want with you?"
"Exceeding the hand of family friendship... or something. I'm not trusting it. It seems dodgy. My reckoning is that she wants to know something about Grimmauld Place. Chances are Lucius has run into something nasty. I know Moody and the twins said they'd leave some surprises for them. Still..."
"Don't go there," said Charlie at once. He knew the Malfoy's or rather, he didn't. And that was what was so disconcerting about them.
"I know." Tonks sighed and ran a hand through her hair (today long and blonde, curling in ringlets at the bottom) before looking across the road toward a pub.
"Drink?"
"Duty?"
"10 minutes to go."
"Duty."
"No one is here."
"Duty."
"We're freezing our arses off."
"... This is a good point."
"Drink?"
"Let's go."
Freezing and sopping wet, Charlie and Tonks entered into the old inn, appropriately called the "Dragons Lair", before taking a seat in the corner and avoiding eye contact with any one other than each other.
"I wonder why Narcissa would want you?" murmured Charlie, continuing his thoughts out loud. It seemed odd; he doubted Lucius would ever contact Tonks even if it did benefit him.
"I don't know and I don't... really... oooof.... care...." said Tonks, pulling her purse out of her pocket with gusto and consequently hitting over a vase of dead roses. It smashed behind them and seconds later, an attractive looking witch rushed over, casting a death glare at Tonks, before sweeping the shattered glass up into her apron and disappearing into a room at the back – presumably the kitchen.
Tonks had gone a red hue that would rival any of the Weasley's blushes. Charlie smiled innocently as Tonks frowned and got 2 sickles out of her purse.
"I think you may need more than that," Charlie said quietly before looking around the room and stifling a snigger.
"Oh shut up," she replied, burying her head in her arms.
--
They left an hour later, the streets dark, and the rain barely allowing people to see through its fierce torrents.
"You staying tonight?" asked Charlie attentively. The rain was pummelling the puddle leaving his trousers wet and uncomfortable as they set off down the street again. The thought of Tonks staying not a couple of rooms away from his made his stomach squirm pleasantly.
"Um. No. I'm not actually. Remus and--"
"Oh right." Charlie tried not to show the different feeling inside of him – one of jealousy – come though. "Well, do you want me to walk you home?"
Tonks gave him and odd look before shaking her head and wrapping her long coat around her.
"It's fine."
There was an awkward pause in which Charlie could only here her breathing on the high collar of his coat. "Well I guess I'll see you..."
"Oh, tomorrow definitely."
Charlie perked up. But wait...
"We haven't got patrols tomorrow."
Tonks pursed her lips before smiling. "You're right. Well in that case we can do something fun instead!"
Charlie grinned, watching the retreating back of Tonks as she walked down the busy street. It was odd. Knowing that a girl he liked had a boyfriend usually threw him off the idea of wanting her but Remus did little to hinder Charlie's feelings for Tonks.
Oh yes. She was definitely worth it.
And more.